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Burning Question #42: Yes Virginia…

It is time for BURNING QUESTiON #42. Woo Hoo and deck those halls with bows of holly. FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA.

Christmas is almost here! Time for glorious trees, holiday cheer, jingle bells, stories of old, Santa Clause, AND VAMPIRES!

So you know what that means…

Winter is here with enough bite to freeze the slow beating heart of almost any Vampire.

My mom used to say to us “Don’t stop your heart or your blood will freeze.”

It is one of those things we have to think about, sometimes. I don’t recall ever telling my own children that, or any other “new” Vampires.

Funny how one thinks of those sayings.

The first bat of the night is a wish. The next is a kiss.

Bad blood is only in the soul.

Dance from dusk to dawn then sleep as if there is no sun.

As a mother (in the 1850’s and 60’s) with a rather large brood of young Vampires (four boys and one girl) my mom took advantage of the holidays in a big way. It was her time to celebrate and bring out the cheer. She was glad to get rid of the musty old gloom of the old days and embrace the Modern Vampire movement.

At the same time a young artist named Thomas Nast created the iconic image of the American Santa Clause. Old Saint Nick was pretty awesome, but Santa was one of our own.

Jolly Old Vampire

Yes, Santa Clause is a Vampire .

He knows when you are sleeping. He knows when you are awake.

He only comes out at night.

Nobody ever sees him.

He has been around for centuries.

He can see in the dark.

Red is his favorite color.

He is jolly (hey, Vampires are jolly).

He likes kids.

He is an icon of popular culture.

He knows who has been good and who has been bad.

Despite his size he can get in and out of any building.

He can make animals that normally live on the ground fly.

Dogs and cats like him (all animals like Vampires because we understand them.)

An interesting fact that all teens should know (and their parents): Thomas Nast was only 19 when he started to create illustrations for Harper’s Weekly. Let that sink in. He was only 19. Let that inspire you.

Plus Thomas Nast rocked the facial hair.

Nast Santa – Jolly Old Elf

Now think about THIS. My kids have no idea what “Yes, Virginia” means or the famous letter. They grew up in a different world, where pussy does not mean a cat, and gay does not necessarily mean happy, and gross isn’t 144 items.